Drogheda is transformed into a sea of colour for 10k
MONTHS of hard work and dedication to training were finally put to the test in Sunday’s Drogheda 10K.
Drogheda was transformed into a mass of colour as the town’s main street came alive for what has become the premier sporting event in the North East, with close on 2,000 participants in this year’s race.
This impeccably well-organised event was blessed to be bathed in glorious sunshine from early on race morning and the warmer temperatures were welcomed by runners and spectators alike.
As the clock ticked down towards the race start, last-minute hugs and words of encouragement were exchanged between loved ones and most of the talk was of how to deal with ‘ The Hill’ on the second half of the course.
Meanwhile, the serious athletes, who were intent on winning county medals as this is the Louth 10K Championship event, were putting the last minute touches to their pre-race routine.
With the dynamic warm-ups over and the last few strides done to waken up the fast twitch fibres, it was time to get the gear off, shake hands with your opponents and then try and run them into the ground over the next six miles.
With a palpable air of excitement, the clock ticked down and once the gun went it was down to business in earnest.
The next six miles were all about hard, sustained running for the frontrunners and these guys don’t slow down when it comes to a hill, so things were pretty tough at the head of the field.
Coming up Dominic Street and turning right for the finish, the race was on in earnest for the vital team places that would determine the county championship medals.
Darragh Greene from Dunleer AC was the first man across the line and he had some 45 seconds to spare over clubmate Tomas Cotter. Drogheda native Simon Ryan was third in 33:57, with Niall Fergus from North East Runners fourth in 35:32.
Drogheda & District’s first finisher in sixth place overall was Shane Larkin who had a terrific run to finish in 35:56, with the heat seemingly not bothering him at all.
Next, in seventh, was Paul Smith who ran a solid 36:37, with Pat O’Grady eighth and Colin Dyas 16th in 38:02, with this quartet taking second team prize in the open race and also the county championship.
Also running well in the Men’s race was Stephen Duggan who ran a gutsy 38:09 and just missed out on a medal.
In the ladies race the winner was Ruth Fitzgerald in a fine 37:54, followed by Michelle Cox who was second in 38:25, with Karen Costello of Dunleer third in 39:06. D&D’s first finisher in sixth place was Mary Leech in 40:47, followed by Yasmin Canning in eighth spot in 42:37.
With Ciara O’Reilly finishing 14th in 45:07 and Rachel McCormack next in 45:14, this quartet packed well to secure the open race team title as well as the county championship award.
Laura Roche ran well to finish in 49:44 and Gerry Carroll showed many of his younger rivals a clean pair of heels when finishing in 55:04.
Leaving the serious racers aside, the real winners on the day were without doubt the huge numbers of people who in a short space of time have transformed themselves in their quest to complete this year’s race. Hopefully some of these people will continue their involvement in local athletics.
Drogheda must have the most enthusiastic supporters in the North East as the smiling faces and the wisecracks from the spectators along the route drove the runners’ tired bodies up the hill and got them all the way to the finish.
Elsewhere, the inaugural running of the Bristol-Myers-Squibb 5K race took place last Wednesday in Ballycoolin, near Blanchardstown.
Conditions on the night were near much perfect for the 350-plus runners as they warmed up for this two-lap race. Paddy Murphy knew that he was in good form travelling up to this race and it was all about putting the pieces together once the gun went.
Murphy, strengthened by many miles of cross-country running over the winter months, lost no time in making his way towards the leading pack and his first 1K of 3:42 showed that he was up for the challenge ahead.
Going out on the last lap, Murphy kept good form and wound up the pace on his nearest rivals and even managed to pick up a couple of places on the run-in.
Crossing the line tired but happy with his effort, Murphy looked up to see the clock showing 18:42, a sparkling new PB by about 12 seconds, which placed him 33rd overall and first in his Men’s O-50 category.
Given that this was Murphy’s first 5K in quite a while, his times could tumble even further with some more races in his legs.
Club Captain Jim Nolan had a solid run to finish 100th in 21:10, with Sprint group member Hugh O’Reilly stepping up in distance to finish 124th in 22:19.
Prolific racer Nuala Reilly turned the screw on her opponents from an early stage and came home a popular winner of her category in 21:51.
Saturday saw the 200th running of the weekly Oldbridge Parkrun take place on a beautiful sunny morning.
D&D’s first finisher in ninth place overall was Tony Corcoran who ran 21:59 for the 5k course, which is quickening up with the better weather.
Next, in 16th spot, was Ieva Ofmane who ran well to finish in 23:38, with Mike Staunton not far behind in 21st place and running a new PB time of 24:30.
Barney Flannery and Sinead McGuiness both finished in the same time of 27:03, followed by Michele McCullough in 54th place in 28:52. Rose Dalton was 84th in 34:44.
The North Leinster Schools Track and Field was in Morton Stadium last Wednesday and Friday in beautiful sunshine.
Oliver Clutterbuck, representing Balkymakenny College, was second in the 1500m and Kate O’Reilly was seventh in the 1500m and sixth in the 800m, both in a new PB of 5:42 and 2:44 respectively.
Tadgh Donnelly from St Josephs CBS was fourth in the 1500m and Cormac Canning from St Mary’s eighth in his 1500m.
On Friday Moya McCabe ran a super 300m hurdles, finishing second, and later in the day was third in the javelin, qualifying her for the Leinster finals.
In the 3k Intermediate boys race, Tadhg Donnelly was first and Cormac Canning sixth.